Karl Struss (1886–1981)
What is Karl Struss’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 113 auction results for Karl Struss at 12 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $627 including buyer’s premium (middle half $200–$1,764, n=25). The auction record is $313,000 for 'metropolitan tower--twilight' (2008, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 'metropolitan tower--twilight' | — | $313,000 | Sotheby's | Apr 2008 |
| 2 | Man's Construction, 1912 | Platinum palladium print | $161,000 | Christie's | Oct 2015 |
| 3 | Brooklyn Bridge, Nocturne, 1912 | Gum platinum print | $149,000 | Christie's | Oct 2000 |
| 4 | Sorrento, 1909, 1886 | Platinum print, mounted to tissue | $27,720 | Christie's | Apr 2025 |
| 5 | Brooklyn Bridge, 1886 | Platinum print | $24,000 | Christie's | Feb 2007 |
| 6 | Towards Hamilton, Bermuda, 1914, 1914 | Tirage au platine palladium monté deux fois sur supports cartonnés | $20,241 | Christie's | Nov 2014 |
| 7 | A portfolio 1909-1929, 1909 | Platinum print | $17,575 | Bonhams | Apr 2019 |
| 8 | Reflections, Moonlight, Arverne, Long Island | Platinum print | $16,250 | Phillips | Apr 2017 |
| 9 | Riverside Drive from Across the Hudson | Platinum print | $15,000 | Phillips | Apr 2017 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Portfolio 1909/29, 1909 | Photographs | $17,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Oct 2019 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 14 | $2,325 |
| Photographs | 86 | $1,993 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 94 | $1,993 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 113 results from 12 houses · How we compute these figures
Karl Struss is an American artist with 175 auction lots recorded since 1993, median price $1,820. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Karl Struss sold in 2026 for $4,064, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Karl Struss record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Karl Struss on OpeningBid →What is a Karl Struss work worth?
Across 113 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Struss work is $1,820.
The median Karl Struss photograph sells for $1,700 across 99 lots.
The median Karl Struss print sells for $4,900 across 12 lots.
Small (under 50 cm) Karl Struss photographs typically sell for $896–$3,601 (the middle half of 94 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 16 | $4,900 | $17,575 | 75% | 2026-09-24 |
| Photography | 134 | $1,700†‡ | $161,000 | 73.9% | 2026-09-24 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 6 | $88,360 | $313,000 | — | 2025-04-17 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $2,536–$8,940 | $5,000 | $17,575 |
Photography
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 94 | $896–$3,601†‡ | $1,732†‡ | $161,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photography | 2015 | $161,000 |
| Photography | 2000 | $149,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $17,575 |
| Prints & Editions | 2013 | $12,000 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Karl Struss worth?
Across 113 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Karl Struss work is $1,820. The median Karl Struss photograph sells for $1,700 across 99 lots. The median Karl Struss print sells for $4,900 across 12 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Karl Struss photographs typically sell for $896–$3,601 (the middle half of 94 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Karl Struss photograph?
Based on 99 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Struss photograph is $1,700. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Karl Struss's most expensive photograph?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Struss photograph is $161,000.
What is the average price of a Karl Struss print?
Based on 12 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Karl Struss print is $4,900.
What is Karl Struss's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Karl Struss print is $17,575.
What is the average price of a small Karl Struss photograph?
Based on 94 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Karl Struss photograph (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,732, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a small Karl Struss print?
Based on 11 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Karl Struss print (small (under 50 cm)) is $5,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
What is Karl Struss's auction record?
Karl Struss's auction record is $313,000, set in 2008.
See the full Karl Struss record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Karl Struss on OpeningBid →